‘Taking of their whenua’ the main issue for Ō taki hapū

Ō taki hapū have begun presenting their claims to the Waitangi Tribunal at Raukawa Marae, Ō taki.

Spokeswoman Denise Hapetāsays the main issue for Ngā Hapū o Otaki is “the taking of their whenua”.

In Ō taki, the hapū have lost large tracts of land, she says, despite their tū puna gifting land to the community, such as the whenua where Te Wānanga o Raukawa now stands.

That land was given to the Church Mission Society to establish schooling for the community like the Ō taki Native Boys’ School, now the site of the wānanga, says Hapeta.

“Despite the behaviour of the Crown, Ngā Hapū o Ō taki continue to be generous to the community and to its people,” she says.

The loss of te reo Māori is another major issue for the hapū, notwithstanding language revitalisation efforts. “There’s still a long way to go,” says Hapeta.

Ngā ti Pare and Ngā ti Maiotaki hapū from Raukawa Marae and Ngāti Huia ki Katihiku hapū from south of Ō taki River will all make presentations to the tribunal. A broad range of issues will be addressed, including environmental and mana wāhine issues.

Iwi historians Te Kenehi Teira and

Heeni Collins are set to present research reports on Ngāti Raukawa’s contribution to Aotearoa’s war efforts overseas, while a further report will be tabled about the iwi’s customary interests within the Ō taki area.

Other Ō taki hapū will commence their presentations in November and continue until next year.

This is one of the larger Treaty of Waitangi claims to be heard throughout the country. It commenced in 2020 in Manawatū and has progressed south to its conclusion in Ō taki next year.

The original claim was lodged in 1989 by kaumātua Whata Karaka Davis, Ngārongo Iwikatea Nicholson, Te Maharanui Jacob and Pita Richardson, who have all now passed on.